The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-01-20
Won BuloW as a Joker.

The great pianist invited me to lunch
with him one Monday at his boarding
place on Beacon street. He said he was
depressed, and wanted to make some
body as miserable as he was himself.
He preferred friend for this object,
aud suggested that if would be that
friend lie would appreciate my voluntary
submission TO suffering as proof of
sincere amitv. 1t was always difficult
to tell when Won Bulow was jesting, for
his manner was invariably earnest.
However, | consented to lunch with
him, whereupon he took my arm, and,
as we walked, he urged me solemnly to
avoid music as topic for conversation,
unless mad something startling 10 pro-
pose, such as new resolution of chord
of the ninth or a plan for the simulta-
neous destruction of all the piano-forte
manufacturers in the world. He grew
eloquent upon the subject of the fine
lunch he had offered and | had accept
ed, and in the course of the conversa-
ton enlarged upon the epicurean de-
lights that Munich presented TO the bon
viUant, ending with an invitation to me
to visit that art capital with him in
order to eat black radish and to try
the beer at the Hofbrauerei.
The banquet consisted of minced fish,
baked beans, and brown bread of the
day before, and other fare in kind, well
prepared and we'll served enough. but
food for which have no especial fond
ness. l therefore ate sparlngly. which
Won Bulow observing, said: ''But you
don't eat, my dear fellow! You are O.
Boston. The beans are of Boston; the
brown bread is of Boston. Feast!" 1t
was impossible to avoid laughing at his
grave solicitude for my comfort and at
the manner in which he enjoyed his
curious joke, for joke it was. Presently
a new idea seemed 10 strike him. for he
summoned a waiter, and after an ell
couraging glance at me, ordered that
worthy TO bring to the table the bottle
bearing the name Won Bulow on label
about its neck. The wine was brought
and my glass was filled with claret. !
waited for Won Bulow to fill his own;
but he said he could not drink, as it
affected his head at once. | put the
wine to my lips. 1t was sour as ver-
juice and as bitter as gall. ! replaced
the glass on the table with as little de-
lay as possible. He had watched me
with great interest, and when he saw
the unfavorable effect his wine had
made, said Inquiringly: Don't you
like it?" Upon informing him with as
much delicacy as | could summon that
the claret was abominable, he shook his
head sadly, and observed: ut must be
so! Now am convinced. You are the
seventh guest / have invited here vino
has condemned that same bottle of
wine! The only apology | have is that
| have kept my word to you. lpromised
to make you miserable. ! know | have
succeeded"
On another occasion Won Bulow con-
fessed to ME that he wanted to make a
Joke. This time all was open and
above board. He wished to do a SER
vice 10 his agent. one Wertheimer, and
| he thought he could best do it by writing
| and publishing Il comic song. A comic
song by the classical Won Bulow would
| be sure to have an immense sale, and
| Wertheimer would reap large profit
| from it. Words were wanted, and Won
| Bulow asked ME to write him Il few
| humorous stanzas, of which the burden
| or catch-word was to be "A little more
| ginger" then, | believe, II popular
slang term. | wrote and delivered the
words, and Won BuloW told me to call
upon him the next day to hear the we'd
ding of my words to music by him. |
went, and after the composer had told
me his success in finding 4 tune he sat
At the piano and played 1t. Never did
| hear more cramped, uumelodious,
and msingable melody, and the piano
forte accompaniment bristled with dItfi-
cultles, requiring a Skill no less than his
own to play. l was amazcd-speech-
less! We'll" he said, turning on the
piano-stool, what do you think of it,
poet?" told him with the most perfect
frankness that the voice part of his
musical joke was unsingable. and the
piano part unplayable. My dear fell
Iow." he said, with something of pity in
his tones, that is the joke. "-Bost0'.
Saturday Erening Gazette.